VI Lenin

On International Women's Day

Capitalism combines formal equality with economic and,
consequently, social inequality. This is one of the principal
distinguishing features of capitalism, one that is mendaciously
screened by the supporters of the bourgeoisie, the liberals, and
that is not understood by the petty-bourgeois democrats. Out of
this distinguishing feature of capitalism, by the way,
the necessity arises, while fighting resolutely for economic
equality, openly to recognise capitalist inequality and, under
certain conditions, even to include this open recognition of
inequality as a basis for the proletarian state organisation (the
Soviet Constitution).

But capitalism cannot be consistent even with regard
to formal equality (equality before the law, "equality" between
the well-fed and the hungry, between the property-owner and the
property-less). And one of the most flagrant manifestations of
this inconsistency is the inferior position of woman
compared with man. Not a single bourgeois state, not
even the most progressive, republican democratic state, has
brought about complete equality of rights.

But the Soviet Republic of Russia promptly wiped out,
without any exception, every trace of inequality in the
legal status of women, and secured her complete equality in its
laws.

It is said that the level of culture is best characterised by
the legal status of woman. There is a grain of profound truth in
this saying. From this point of view, only the dictatorship of the
proletariat, only the socialist state, could achieve and did
achieve a higher level of culture.
Therefore, the foundation (and consolidation) of the first
Soviet Republic--and alongside and in connection with this, the
Communist International-inevitably lends a new, unparalleled,
powerful impetus to the working women's movement.

For, when we speak of those who, under capitalism, were
directly or indirectly, wholly or partially oppressed, it is
precisely the Soviet system, and the Soviet system only, that
secures democracy. This is clearly demonstrated by the position of
the working class and the poor peasants. It is clearly
demonstrated by the position of women.

But the Soviet system represents the final decisive conflict
for the abolition of classes, for economic and social
equality. For us, democracy, even democracy for those who
were oppressed under capitalism, including democracy for the
oppressed sex, is inadequate.

The working women s movement has for its objective the fight
for the economic and social, and not merely formal, equality of
woman. The main task is to draw the women into socially productive
labour, extricate them from "domestic slavery", free them of their
stultifying and humiliating resignation to the perpetual and
exclusive atmosphere of the kitchen and
nursery.

It is a long struggle, requiring a radical remaking both of
social technique and of customs. But this struggle will end with
the complete triumph of communism.